Biodegradable composites with aligned hydroxyapatite nanoneedles

We prepared an anisotropic bone graft composite to mimic the hierarchical structure of the natural bone in which aligned hydroxyapatite (HA) nanocrystals deposit along collagen fibers. To approach the modulus and strength of the bone, we incorporated synthesized HA nanoneedles and melt drawn poly(L-lactic acid) fibers in our composite as reinforcing components. Their preferred orientation was induced via a modified pultrusion process. The HA orientation distribution was examined using wide angle X-ray diffraction. Micromechanical Halpin–Tsai model predictions considering the amount, shape, and orientation distribution of HA were compared, favorably, with the experimental observations. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2012.